As of 9 p.m., no body had been recovered. Fowler said the man spent about 15 minutes above water and then went under.

Fowler said witnesses reported the man had askedif the pier was a good place to swim before jumpingover a railing into the river. The man might have been attempting suicide, Fowler said.

Michael Patterson, 16, and Marcus Blamn, 17, were fishing at the park when they saw the man jump into the river. They said they heard the man yelling from across the bank of the river before jumping over the rail.